You'll have the chance to live - or, rather, ride around - like the King at Bonhams' upcoming sale of Elvis Presley's limousine.
This car has certainly 'seen things', having been used by Elvis to transport his band to concerts all over the Southern United States. The limo will appear for sale at Bonhams' Classic California sale, happening on November 12.
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 Elvis's throne (bottom pic) in the back of his classic 1955 |
Actually a 1955 Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood limousine, the car will sell with its full documents which reveal that the King first bought it in January 1956. In true rock 'n' roll style, he immediately had it re-sprayed black.
As with many collectibles from Elvis's early era, the limo's documents show that the King was still tied to his parents' apron strings at the time. The 1956 contract was co-signed by Elvis's father.
This isn't the first Elvis limo to appear for sale on the collectors' markets. But many past examples have had dubious provenance. This example, on the other hand, is fully-documented with clear proof it was once owned by Presley.
Bonhams' pre-sale estimate for the vehicle ranges from $100,000-150,000.
This estimate is higher than the sale total achieved by Elvis's powder blue Mercedes-Benz Limousine back in December 2010.
Restored to a very high standard, the rare piece of Elvis's history attracted a great deal of interest and in the end went to a German buyer. It brought £80,700.
That car was one of two 600 Mercedes owned by the King. Presley owned the car for two years before he gave it to one of his friends, James Leroy Robertson.
 One of two 600 Mercedes owned by the King, sold for £80,700 last year |
Presley's fan club later attempted to get the car quarantined as they considered it a national treasure that should not leave the USA.
This 1955 Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood limousine has yet to attract any controversy - but should attract plenty of bidders at Bonhams' California sale as Elvis memorabilia is highly sought after.
Why do his collectibles remain so popular? Well, the proof is in the pudding... More than 30 years after his death, Elvis still tops Forbes' annual poll over the top earning dead celebrities.
Meanwhile, 600,000 people still visit Graceland every year. And the PFC40 autograph index shows the value of Elvis's autograph is up 333.3% in 11 years.
We have this example of an autograph for sale (pictured above). It was signed by Elvis just two years after he was drafted into the army, and proves that his collectibles are as varied as they are sought-after on today's markets.
